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Friday, 10 August 2012

Teams prepare for Snetterton : Honda

The two Hondas squabble for position at Croft. Can they bring home success at Snetterton?

Matt
Neal and Gordon ‘Flash’ Shedden will be defending their lead in
the MSA Dunlop British Touring Car Championship as the Honda Yuasa
Racing Team heads to Snetterton this weekend.

After
a long summer break, the duo will be making its second race visit to
the 300 version of the Norfolk circuit, this time with the
title-leading NGTC Honda Civics.

Despite being at the top of
the table, the squad has been working hard over the break so that it
can continue its fine run. Work has been ongoing with the chassis as
the boost restrictions in the series are still limiting the Civic’s
straightline speed.

“Our engines have been away for a check
over and we’ve been tweaking bits and bobs,” says points leader
and reigning champion Neal. “Everyone’s learning the NGTC package
and we’ve had the best grip of it so far, and we’ve got a few new
bits to try.”

The triple champion had a difficult time at
Snetterton last year on his way to the title, but he still likes the
new layout, which was used for the first time in the BTCC in
2011.

“We’ll get left on the straights at Snetterton, so
we’ll have to work in the corners,” he said. “[MG driver and
rival] Jason Plato will be there, and so will the Fords, but we
should be in the mix again.

“The 300 circuit still has long
straights, but it’s more technical than the old layout, which
should help us. I enjoy it – I loved the old circuit, but I like
the new one even better. It’s challenging.”

Shedden, who
is just one point behind Neal in the drivers’ table, did win a race
at Snetterton last year and is not worried about the lack of testing
he has had since the last BTCC round at Croft.

“We had quite
a few things we needed to make changes too and we focused on those
rather than running,” he said.

“There are a lot of corners
at Snetterton, but there are a lot of straights too. You’re flat in
sixth on the start/finish straight, again on the straight behind the
pits, and again on the Bentley Straight. It’ll make it a bit
tricky, but we’ll have to make the most of the corners.

“It’ll
be the usual suspects and I can see the Fords and BMWs being quick.
The racing was quite good last year, but it’s quite easy to
defend.”

As well as leading the drivers’ table with its
two stars, the Honda Yuasa Racing Team leads the team’s table and
the manufacturers’ championship heading into the weekend.

The
Snetterton action gets under way at 09:35am on Saturday with free
practice. Qualifying is at 3:15pm, and the first of three races on
Sunday is scheduled for 12:00.